Improvement in suspenders



UNITED .STATES PATENT QFFICE,

VILLIAM l?. TOWLES, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN SUSPENDERS.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent N0. 78,494, dated June 2, 1868.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. TowLns, of Baltimore, in the county ot' Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Suspenders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled inthe art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention has reference to a new and improved method ot' forming Suspenders for gentlemens pantaloons and ladies skirts, whereby the stress or strain is balanced and equalized, and a free and unrestricted motion ofthe body allowed 5 and the invention consists in so forming the suspenders that the stress or strain on the same shall act at a common center, and so that the suspenders shall act as a brace to the shoulders, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The drawing represents the form and construction o' suspenders made according to my invention.

A is the common center. B B represent the straps and button-holes by which the suspenders are connected with the pantaloons. These connections are made immediately under the arms, or at two points only.

The webs marked C G are non-elastic, and are slipped over the shoulders in wearing. The webs marked D D are elastic. Each of these webs is attached to the center-piece A, as seen in the drawing.

The non-elastic webs C C pass over the shoulders in front, while the elastic webs pass across the back, and both meet underneath the arms and connect with the rings E E, as

' seen in the drawing.

F F represent slides to shorten or .lengthen the Suspenders, as may be desired by the wearer.

The webs (front andback) are cut at certain lengths as regards each other. Both front and back webs draw from the common center A, and equalize the strain upon each shoulder, while the center-piece A will adapt the suspender to any form of shoulders. The pantaloons being attached and supported from two central points under the arms, and so adjusted by the Suspenders as to hang on a coinmon center, therefore the strain or stress on them is just their own weight in any position in which the wearer may place himself.

Adjusted as described, the suspenders act as a brace for the support of the shoulders without causing undue pressure on the pants at the front or rear.

As seen in the drawing, the center-piece A is formed of four sections, hinged together so as to form a square or quadrangle; but I do not conne myself to that particular arrangement. Asingle piece of metal, of quadrangular or any other form, may perhaps be used for this purpose with equal advantage.

These suspenders are equally well adapted t0 ladies wear for supporting their skirts as for supporting gentlemens pantaloons.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination and arrangement of the adj ust-able non-elastic shoulder-straps C, center A, elastic strap D, rings E, and buttonhole straps B, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

W'M. P. TOWLES.

Witnesses E. BoNNEY, J As. H. W. PAssAMoRE. 

